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| Yellow Grasshopper |
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| The Blurry (but more complete) Version |
I found this yellow grasshopper enjoying one of the osteospermum flower heads; I believe it is an immature Gray Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens). I've seen the adult grasshoppers, but, this is the first time I've seen a juvenile.
Today, I spent some time in the morning replying to blog comments. Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful, supportive comments on Sunday's post about my daughter's return to her apartment and yesterday's post about meal planning.
Then, I brought in the trash cans that had been emptied, earlier.
After that, it was time to go for my blood test which had been scheduled for 12:15 p.m. I got there a bit earlier than that and there was no one in the waiting room; I was called in a couple of minutes and had my blood drawn.
I had been fasting for the blood draw, so, when I came home, I made my egg salad and had a sandwich for brunch, followed by a bowl of fresh fruit salad (apples, orange, kiwis, raisins, cashews). I have finished all the fresh fruits that I had in the fridge and have only the oranges on the tree until I order some groceries.
I had various plans to do some cleaning in the afternoon, but, the only cleaning I did was scrubbing the kitchen sink and the dish drainer. Instead of cleaning, I took a short nap on the sofa!
My daughter called me after she finished her work for the day and said she was going to buy her bus pass, since she will have to take the bus to the office on Thursday. On the way back, she stopped at Trader Joe's and bought her half and half, a dozen eggs ($2.49 - cheaper than at the dollar store!), an English cucumber, and a bag of arugula. She said her total came to $9 and some cents. She had a headache all day, she said, but, it went away when she walked to the store to buy her bus pass. On the way home, she took the bus; everyone on the bus was required to wear a mask, she said, which is good to know. Berkeley's new daily Covid numbers are a lot fewer than Los Angeles numbers, in the single digits up there whereas we are happy if the numbers are around 1,000!
The weekly grocery ads arrived today and I looked through them. I am weighing the risks of going in person to the ethnic store or the dollar store here, to buy some groceries, now that it has been almost two weeks since I had my second booster. Something to think about.
In the evening, I boiled some frozen corn to have with the last piece of fish and the last bit of the cabbage slaw from the Easter meal. It's only the second day, but, the meal plan is working well, so far! LOL.
After dinner, I chatted with friend R for a bit and video chatted with my daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A safe drive to the lab and back
- Pleasant staff at the lab
- No long wait at the lab
- Medical insurance
- Daughter had a good day
Today's joyful activity was taking an afternoon nap!
Plans for tomorrow include M's visit to tend to the garden and maybe dropping off some clothes for friend R to send to her granddaughter.
How was your Tuesday? What are your plans for Wednesday?
These days after my midday snack I usually fall asleep for a short while, I just can't help it so you're not alone. What a shame your daughter had a headache all day but good it went when she went for her walk. Do consider going out to the stores. I do pop in now and again for a few things but still keep my weekly delivery shop going. It''s good to try something different apart from the usual online favourites list.
ReplyDeleteAfternoon naps are a guilty pleasure for me, Eileen. :) Yes, I, too, am glad my daughter's headache went away after she went for her walk. Maybe the fresh air and exercise helped. I am considering venturing out to pick up a few groceries - still at the thinking about it stage! :)
DeleteMaybe you could call the store and ask when it's least crowded and go then. I find it's pretty easy to work around other people in a store when there aren't many in there.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea to call ahead and ask, June. Of course, I could always leave if I thought the store was too crowded, too!
DeleteI'm glad your blood test went easily. You never know how these things will pan out.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's great you had an afternoon nap. I wish I could nap but I've rarely been able too. In general, I sleep pretty well but sometimes I have a restless night and would like to nap but just can't seem to fall asleep during the day.
I'm glad your daughter's headache went away and she got the eggs and a few more things and her bus pass. (and that the people on the bus were wearing a mask :)
I thought of your daughter when the ruling came out about masks on planes and was glad her flight was before that ruling.
Thank you, Debra; I like short wait times in medical clinics and pharmacies, etc. :) Afternoon naps are nice, but, they do mess up my already messed up sleep schedule!
DeleteWe were very pleased that my daughter was able to fly before the air travel mask mandate ended! She would have worn her mask, anyway, but, I wonder if that would have subjected her to harassment by fellow passengers!
I don't believe I have ever seen yellow grasshoppers, sounds like something you would read in a children's book.
ReplyDeleteTruth is often stranger than fiction, as they say! :D
DeleteYou really know your grasshoppers! I'm impressed. Good that there was no one waiting when you went for the blood tests. Nice to have a nap as you have been rather busy lately. I'm glad to hear that people are wearing masks on the bus that your daughter takes.
ReplyDeleteOn Tuesday I had one of those days when nothing seems to get done, but I did phone friends, and a friend couple surprised me as they both have Covid, and haven't a clue where they picked it up. Our town has been free for so long but I have heard of one or two other cases recently, so it is not a time to relax caution.
I'd like to say it's all due to my field zoology courses (took a total of 3), but, all I did this time was do an online search for yellow grasshopper! :D
DeleteSorry to hear that two of your friends have Covid! Hope it is a mild case for both of them and they will recover without any complications. One can't be too careful out there! There is another new variant that is spreading, I've read.
My plans for Wednesday were a bust! I woke extremely early, stayed in bed and read for a couple of hours, fell back to sleep and slept an hour and a half. I am way behind on everything now, so I might as well just finish my book!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good way to salvage what's left of the day! :D You've got your priorities right!
DeleteI don't like the fasting blood tests but at least my surgery is very good at arranging an early morning appointment, usually before 10:30am ... I wouldn't be able to last until 12:15pm without getting a migraine! Anyway, I hope the results are good.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your daughter's headache went away. Was it maybe to do with ventilation in her apartment or light glare on the screen?
Are you able to choose a time when you know the store will have fewer customers? I plan to do my in-store shopping early in the morning when I know it will be quiet.
I've spent this afternoon with my friend J. We met for coffee and a chat at one of the local garden centres ... it was lovely.
It was my fault for not making the appointment earlier; by the time I made the appointment, all the morning slots were gone. I was OK as I don't usually eat until after noon, but, I did miss my morning cup of tea! I had a cup of hot water, instead, but, it wasn't the same. :) I need to make my next blood test appointment well in advance!
DeleteMy daughter's headache could have been due to poor ventilation, although she said she had the window open most of the day, because there is only one window and it can't be open all the way. Or, it could have been due to a lack of sleep (she said she had a hard time falling asleep in the bed and eventually, fell asleep on the sofa for a few hours before she needed to get up to start her work day).
I suppose shopping in person will have to be a carefully planned. Perhaps when the store first opens would be a good time to go - provided I wake up early enough! :D
Sounds like you've had a lovely afternoon, Eileen. I met briefly with R, but, it was a curbside visit with our masks on. :)
I am glad that your daughter is settling in okay and her headache disappeared, the fresh air probably helped. I am guilty of afternoon naps, I find if I dont have them Im tired by 8 in the evening and have to go to bed then I wake up at 3 or 4am wide awake! Be very careful when you venture out, the suggestion of phoning the store for their less busy times is a good idea. The first time I ventured out, I got covid! Although, I have to say I was silly to have chosen a busy market!
ReplyDeleteMy plans for Tuesday and Wednesday, well its Thursday here and you asking always makes me chuckle as I have to think hard on what I did, lol. I know I had a grocery delivery on Wednesday and was so pleased all wants were supplied, except for one sub and that even pleased me as they gave me an expensive brand for the price of the cheap one, saving $3. This afternoon I have a church meeting, all socially distanced and masked of course.
Oh, my goodness, Sharon, I hadn't realized that was how you got exposed to Covid! Another friend of mine has cautioned me about venturing out, so, I shall definitely keep the risk of exposure in mind! I'm glad your grocery delivery contained everything you wanted and the store substituted the more expensive item at the same price as the cheaper one. The store I order my groceries from (I do curbside pick up), does the same when making substitutions. Oops, sorry, I think just about all my readers are in time zones ahead of me! I probably need to post very early in the mornings instead of late at night! :D I hope you have a wonderful church meeting and the rest of your day. :)
DeleteI'm still wearing my mask, even though I'm non contagious for another month or so, as covid stays in one's system for 3 months, but we are only infectious for 7 days at the start. My neighbour often does my shop when he does it for his family, so very lucky me. I am quite surprised at the number of people who don't wear masks. I know that there are people who test positive but have no symptoms, but I was very sick, even though Id had 2 shots and a booster. Take care, and look after yourself xxxxx
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you were so sick, Ratnamurti; I hope you are feeling better, now. I'm glad your neighbor often does your grocery shopping for you; helpful neighbors are a blessing, aren't they?
DeleteI'm glad your daughter is settling back in. It will be a change going back into the office. Will masks still be required on the buses now? I must admit that I don't like the thought of travelling close to other people without a mask.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Yes, right now, she is required to go into the office two days a week, but they have to take a Covid test on the first day back, every week. Masks are still required on public transit in the Bay Area as far as I know. My daughter will continue to wear her mask even if the mask mandate is lifted.
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